Differential gene expression profiling in the developed ovaries between the parthenogenetic and bisexual female rice water weevils,Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus Kuschel （Coleoptera： Curculionidae）

The rice water weevil, Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus Kuschel （Coleoptera： Curculionidae）, reproduces by sex in the Southeastern United States, but reproduces by parthenogenesis in California and other invaded regions in Asia and Europe. The objective of this study was to create a parthenogenetic gene expression profile of the rice water weevil in order to gain a better insight into the molecular mechanisms of parthenogenesis in the weevil. Suppression subtractive hybridization （SSH） technique was employed for profiling differential gene expression in the developed ovary between the parthenogenetic and bisexual female rice water weevils. A total of 70 contigs were obtained, and the BLASTX search identified putatively 28 genes with differential functions. According to the cytological process of parthenogenesis, the tubulin alpha-1 chain and signal transduction genes etc. were selected for real time quantitative RT-PCR analyses, and their possible functions related to the molecular mechanism of parthenogenesis were discussed. The tubulin alpha-1 chain and some signal transduction genes may be related to the molecular mechanisms of parthenogenesis of the rice water weevil.     

GTPase activating proteins: structural and functional insights 18 years after discovery

The conversion of guanosine triphosphate (GTP) to guanosine diphosphate (GDP) and inorganic phosphate (P_i) by guanine nucleotide binding proteins (GNBPs) is a fundamental process in living cells and represents an important timer in intracellular signalling and transport processes. While the rate of GNBP-mediated GTP hydrolysis is intrinsically slow, direct interaction with GTPase activating proteins (GAPs) accelerates the reaction by up to five orders of magnitude in vitro. Eighteen years after the discovery of the first GAP, biochemical and structural research has been accumulating evidence that GAPs employ a much wider spectrum of chemical mechanisms than had originally been assumed, in order to regulate the chemical players on the catalytic protein-protein interaction stage. Received 25 March 2005; received after revision 31 August 2005; accepted 6 September 2005     

Inhibitors of protein kinase C

Protein kinase catalyzes the transfer of the γ-phosphoryl group from ATP to the hydroxyl groups o fprotein side chains, which plays critical roles in signal transduction pathways by transmitting extracellular signals across the plasma membrane and nuclear membrane to the destination sites in the cytoplasm and the nucleus. Protein kinase C (PKC) is a superfamily of phospholipid-dependent Ser/Thr kinase. There are at least 12 isozymes in PKC family.They are distributed in different tissues and play different roles in physiological processes. On account of their concern with a variety of pathophysiologic states, such as cancer,inflammatory conditions, autoimmune disorder, and cardiac diseases, the inhibitors, which can inhibit the activity of PKC and the interaction of cytokine with receptor, and interfere signal transduction pathway, may be candidates of therapeutic drugs. Therefore, intense efforts have been made to develop specific protein kinase inhibitors as biological tools and therapeutic agents. This article reviews the recent development of some of PKC inhibitors based on their interaction with different conserved domains and different inhibition mechanisms.     

TRAF4 functions as an intermediate of GITR-induced NF-κB activation

Members of the tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) family regulate the activation, differentiation, and function of many cell types, including cells of the immune system. TNFR-associated factors (TRAFs) function as adapter molecules controlling signaling pathways triggered by TNFR family members, such as activation of nuclear factor B (NF-B). Despite intensive research, the function of TRAF4 in signaling pathways triggered by TNFR-related proteins remains enigmatic. Intriguingly, our functional studies indicated that TRAF4 augments NF-B activation triggered by glucocorticoid-induced TNFR (GITR), a receptor expressed on T cells, B cells, and macrophages. Further analyses revealed that TRAF4-mediated NF-B activation downstream of GITR depends on a previously mapped TRAF-binding site in the cytoplasmic domain of the receptor and is inhibited by the cytoplasmic protein A20. GITR is thought to inhibit the suppressive function of regulatory T cells (T_reg cells) and to promote activation of T cells. Taken together, our studies provide the first indications that TRAF4 elaborates GITR signaling and suggest that TRAF4 can modulate the suppressive functions of T_reg cells.Received 20 September 2004; received after revision 8 October 2004; accepted 18 October 2004     

Brassinosteroid signal transduction: An emerging picture

Brassinosteroids (BRs) are plant steroid hormones that have similar structures and functions with Brassino-lide (BL). BR signaling is complicated, and the input of BR signal is under fine control. The active BR level is regulated at the levels of BR biosynthesis and metabolic inactivation[1,2]. BR biosynthetic pathway consists of a metabolic grid, and the expression of several genes for BR biosynthesis is feedback regulated by BR signaling[3,4]. The sequential events of BR action inclu…     

Src与FAK的相互作用及其在心肌肥大信号转导中的作用

心肌细胞肥大是许多心血管疾病常见的细胞形态学改变，其表型特征由其核内基因表达模式决定。Src和黏着斑激酶（focal adhesion kinase，FAK）作为胞质蛋白酪氨酸激酶是整合素信号的早期调控因子，是多细胞生物体所必须的。本文主要综述Src激酶家族及FAK在心肌肥大中信号转导的最新进展。     

植物在渗透胁迫下信号转导的级联机制

研究植物在渗透胁迫下信号转导的级联机制,对于有效调控植物在逆境中的生长发育,提高其抗逆性和生存能力具有重要的指导意义．根据近年来国内外的研究成果和报道,综述了植物细胞在渗透胁迫下感受到信号后,相继产生许多信号分子,这些信号分子通过细胞壁-质膜-细胞骨架连续体,引起细胞骨架蛋白变构而传递信息,并与细胞膜蛋白、第二信使系统以及调节因子构成了信号传递网,最终有条不紊地引起特定的基因表达和应答．